Heading or tunneling machine



,H. HIRSL HEADl-NG QR TUNNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1919.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. 'H IRST.

HEADING 0R TUNNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9.1919.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- HENRY HIRST, OF DEWSBURY, ENGLAND.

HEADING OR TUNNELING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

-App1ication filed September 9, 1919. Serial No. 322,719.

T 0 all w hom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY Hms'r, a subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Orescent House, Moorlands avenue, Dewsbury, in the county of Yorkshire, England, have invented a new and useful Improved Heading or Tunneling Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved machine for driving headings and tunnels in coal or other similar workings of the kind in which revoluble cutters adapted to travel in a curved path are employed, and in which means are also provided for delivering the swarf or cuttings automatically behind the machine so that the machine can be kept continuously at work.

A mining machine in accordance with the present invention comprises a partly rotatable cutter head swiveling on vertical bearings and fitted with a plurality of cutter wheels fixed to a common shaft and means whereby the cutter head is automatically swung from side to side across the heading. It comprises further various novel features in the construction as are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In order to enable the invention to be readily understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a sectional plan of the machine,

Fig. 2 a sectional elevation showing the internal arrangements,

Fig. 3 a side elevation,

Fig. 4 an end view of the machine body, and

Fig. 5 is an end view of the cutting wheels and scrapers.

Referring to the drawings A is the frame work of the machine which for convenience in construction and manipulation is made in three sections of which the central part carries the prime mover which may consist of an electric motor, compressed air engine or any other suitable power producer. The forward section carries the gearing'for driving the cutter wheels, and the rear sectioncarries the gearing for advancing the machine forward, swinging the cutter head' from side to side of the heading, driving the scraper chain, and the fast haulage when the machine requires moving quickly backward or forward in the heading and for drawing the rack back into the machine at the end of each cut.

Taking the forward end of the machine first B is a fixed vertical shaft carrying a sleeve 0 to which are attached bevel wheels D and E. A bevel pinion F is attached to the shaft end G of the motor and drives the whole of the mechanism at this end of the machine. A bevel wheel H gears with wheel E and transmits the power through shaft J to bevel wheel K which is geared to bevel wheel L attached to shaft M running in bearings N, N, the outer ends of shaft M being provided with cutter wheels P, P The frame which carries the cutter wheels 15 pivoted in bearings R, R, concentric with the fixed shaft B and swings around this shaft to an angle of approxlmately 45 on either side of the center line of the machine, the, means adopted to effect this swinging motion being hereinafter described.

The cutter wheels P, P are fitted with a suitable number of cutters S. As these cutter wheels revolve the cutters cut into the mineral and are at the same time moved sidewise and so form a semi-circular shape to the face of the heading being cut, the machine receiving an intermittent forward motion of a suitable amount each time the cutting head swings across the heading. The swarf or cuttings are deposited on the floor under the cutter wheels. To get rid of these cuttings as fast as they are made hinged scrapers T, T, are attached to the underside of the frame which carries the cutter wheels. When the cutter head is traveling toward the left side of the heading the aforementioned scrapers ride over the cuttings, but when the cutter head is traveling toward the right side of the heading the scrapers T, T, stand firm and carry the cuttings into the open space V where they are brought into contact with the traveling scraper chain W which carries them to the rear end of the machine where they can be easily dealt with and removed. A fender X is fitted around the forward end of the machine and down the side to the rear this fender acting as a guide to bring the cuttings into contact with the side scrapers.

The cutters S attached to the cutter wheels P and P are set so that their points on the underside are just level with the base of the machine and thus form a level floor on which the machine can slide. If and when, however, these cutter points become dulled and are thereby shortened the cutters would leave a certain amount of material on the floor of the. heading and the machine having to ride thereon it would cause the machine to rise somewhat in relation to the natural level of the seam and cause the machine 'to rise into the roof.

T0 obviate this difiiculty however, I provide one or more vertical fixed cutters V attached in holders Z to the underside of the swinging frame these cutters being set with their points just level with the underside of the machine. It will thus be seen that if the cutters in the cutting wheels happen to leave a small amount of mineral on the floor, such mineral is cut away by the cutters V and so insuring the machine keeping to its proper place and thus cutting the heading exactly in line with the level of the seam which is being cut.

The mechanism for controlling the forward movement and the swinging movement of the cutter head is contained in the rear section of the machine and is driven from the motor shaft by means of the chain drive on wheels 2 and 3. The latter drives the shaft 4 running in bearings 5, 6 and is provided with a worm and wheel 7 continuing the drive shaft 8 running in bearings 9, 10, 11. This shaft is fitted with another worm drive 12 transmitting the motion to shaft 13 running in bearings 14-, 15. Shaft 13 is also provided with a worm gear 16 continuing the motion to shaft 17 which runs in bearings 18, 19, 20. Attached toshaft 17 are two dog clutches 21, 22 which can be connected alternately to pinions 23,2 1 and which are geared into racks 25, 26, respec-' tively. These racks work in guides 27, 2S and are connected by ropes or chains 29, 30 to the frame work of the cutter head at 31, 32. Levers 33, 34 pivoted on studs 35, 36 are respectively connected to the clutches 21, 22. These levers are controlled by adjustable stops 37, 38 attached to the racks 25, 26. =Levers 33, 34 are. connected together by a link rod 39 to insure both clutches working together. If clutch 21 is now put into gear, rack 25 will be forced toward the rear of the machine and by means of rope 30 will draw the cutter head toward the right hand side of the heading;

'when the cutter head has'in this way trav eledits predetermined distance the stop 38 'will come against lever 34' push clutch 21 out of gear and at the same time push clutch 22" into gear with rack 26 which will now in turn be drawn toward the rear of the ma chlne and will by means of rope 29 draw the cutterhead toward the left hand side' of the heading. The same cycle of operations Willbe repeated, and the cutter head will thus acquire a constant to and fro motion across the face of the heading.

For propelling the machine forward during the cutting operations shaft 17 is pro vided with a 'cam'atO working against a lever 41 which is linked up to lever 42 by link 43. Lever 42 is keyed on to a shaft 44: working in bearings d5, 16. A lever 47 is keyed on to shaft 41% and carries at its upper end a ratchet pawl 48 gearing into a ratchet wheel 19 keyed to shaft'50 running in bearing 51. A pinion 52 is keyed to the end of shaft 50 which gears with a wheel 53 journaled in bearings 54, 55. lV heel 53 runs in gear with rack 56. Shaft 17 is geared up to the motive power so that it makes exactly one revolution for each stroke of the cutting head across the face ofthe heading and cam ll) is placed in such a position on shaft 17 that it is operating against lever d1 when the cutter head is at the end of its stroke, by this means the machine is propelled forward a certain amount each time the cutter head swings across the heading and the feed is put on at the point where the cutters are doing the least amount of work and there is consequently practically only the dead weight of the machine to be moved. The rack 56 works in aslide machined out of the underside of the machine and it can be anchored fast by the screw jack 57 at its outer end. It will be seen that each time cam a) moves the lever 11 it moves ratchet wheel as) one or more'teeth and moves the whole machine bodily along the rack in a forward direction.

In order to prevent the machine overrunningthe end of the rack 'a suitable length of chain 58 is attached atone end to a lug 59 on the outer end of the rack and at the other end to a sliding rod 60 passing through the frame of the machine. T he inner end of rod 60 is connected up to a lever 61 by a link or chain 62 and lever 61 has two slack chains 63 and 64 connected up respectively to the ratchet pawl d3 and hold-up catch 65. hen therefore the machine is approaching the end of its travel on the rack, chain 58 becomes tight and pulls'both ratchet pawl and hold-up catch out of gear and thus stops the machine from being moved any farther forward. -When this happens a pin (not shown) drops into a hole in sliding rod 60 and holds it in theout of gear position, screw ack 57 is now liberated and a chain 61. w h1ch is'attached to the rackend at62. is laid over-idle pulley 63" and sprocket wheel; 64k and this draws the rack back again in its groove under the machine until the screw ack is close up 'to the machine where it 1s clamped fast against the roof and the machineican again resume its forward motion after. said-pin has been Withdrawn to allow the ratchet gear-to opcrate. Sprocket wheel 64f I is attached to shaft 65 which is driven from shaft 13 by means of a pair of wheels 66 and 67'.

If it is necessary at any time to withdraw the machine from the heading a long chain 68 is anchored fast at its left extremity and this chain is laid over idle wheel 63, sprocket 64, idle wheel 68 (Fig. 4) and idle wheel 69 and the end of the chain laid loose on the floor. If the machine is now set in motion the whole machine will be drawn back out of the heading at a quick speed and the same means can be adopted to bring the machine back again to the working face by anchoring chain 68 fast at the opposite end and carrying it over idle wheels 69', 68 and over sprocket 64; in the opposite direction from what is done when the machine is bein drawn out of the heading.

lo guide the machine in a straight line and keep it central in the heading which it is cutting two fixed fenders 70. 71 are attached to brackets 72, 73 at the forward end of the machine and two adjustable fenders 7 1, 75 fitted with rollers 7 6, 77 at their outer ends are mounted on brackets 78, 79 respectively and fitted with adjusting screws 80, 81 at the rear end of the machine.

The scraper chain l/V is driven by sprocket wheel 82 mounted on shaft 88 running in bearings 8A and 85 and this shaft 83 is driven from shaft 8 by means of chain drive 87 (Fig. 3) over sprocket wheels 85, 86.

Obviously the construction hereinbefore described admits of considerable variation without departing from my invention and I do not wish to be restricted to the exact construction hereinbefore described.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. A mining machine for driving tunnels or headings fitted with a partly rotatable cutter head swiveling on vertical bearings and fitted with a plurality of cutter wheels fixed to a common shaft characterized by the provision of means whereby the cutter head may be automatically swung to and fro sidewise about its vertical axis.

2. A mining machine as specified in claim 1 fitted with automatic means to swing the cutter head to and fro sidewise, characterized by racks driven backward and forward from a shaft fitted with clutches and pinions; said clutches being operated by stops on the racks working on to levers which control the engagement of the clutches.

3. A mining machine as specified in claim 1, fitted with a cam and ratchet arrangement working on to a rack for the purpose of advancing the machine each time the cutter head swings across the heading.

at. A mining machine as specified in claim 3 fitted with means to arrest the travel of the machine on the rack when it has arrived at the end of its travel.

5. A mining machine as specified in claim 3 fitted with a screw jack arrangement for holding the end of the rack firmly in position.

6. A mining machine as specified in claim 1 in which the cutter head is fitted with hinged scrapers and fenders for the purpose of moving and guiding the cuttings or swarf to the side of the machine.

7. A mining machine as specified in claim 1 fitted with supplementary cutting tools near the floor level for the purpose set forth.

8. A mining machine as specified in claim 1 fitted with a longitudinal scraper for the purpose of removing the cuttings to the rear of the machine.

9. A mining machine as specified in claim 1 fitted with a chain haulage arrangement for the purpose of flitting the machine quickly in a backward or forward direction.

10. A mining machine as specified in claim 1 fitted with fixed and adjustable guides for the purpose of guiding the ma chine in a straight line.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY HIRST. Witnesses:

Gnonen ARTHUR Hms'r CHARLES INGHAM. 

